…Cabinet Secretary (CS) Simon Chelugui has refuted claims that he was involved in the failed scholarship and immigrant jobs program targeting youth in Eldoret…

In his statement, Chelugui acknowledged to have been present at a function organized by First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy agency, one of the companies roped in the botched program saga.

According to the statement, First Choice invited him to preside over a ceremony of flagging off over 200 youth to Qatar as the then Labour CS in 2021…

In addition, Chelugui defended his legacy as the then CS for Labour stating that he managed to streamline the process of sending workers to the Middle East who subsequently brought foreign exchange in return as remittances…

Chelugui’s name was dragged to the scandal after a Senate Committee investigating the Uasin Gishu jobs scandal called for investigation of alleged political involvement in the scam that saw Kenyans lose money…

In a report tabled before the Senate, members of the Committee called for a probe on all state and public officers alleged to have played a part in the now infamous program.

Besides CS Chelugui, Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and a businessman were also mentioned over alleged association with the recruiting company…